U.S. patent application number 11/765426 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-20 for method of creation of multimedia contents for mobile terminals, computer program product for the implementation of such a method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Alcatel Lucent. Invention is credited to Erwan Baynaud, Gerard Delegue, Emmanuel Marilly, Olivier Martinot, Sylvain Squedin.
Application Number | 20070294674 11/765426 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37692564 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070294674 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Marilly; Emmanuel ; et
al. |
December 20, 2007 |
METHOD OF CREATION OF MULTIMEDIA CONTENTS FOR MOBILE TERMINALS,
COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH A
METHOD
Abstract
Method of creation of a multimedia service, this method
comprising: a step of generic description, independent of the
multimedia format, of the graphical charts employed for the
service, a step of generic description, independent of the
multimedia format, of the elementary services of the service; a
step of merging of the generic description of the graphical charts
and the generic description of the elementary services to form a
generic description of the service; a step of choice of at least
one target language; a step of translation of the generic
description of the service into the chosen target language.
Inventors: |
Marilly; Emmanuel;
(Saint-Michel-Sur-orge, FR) ; Delegue; Gerard;
(Cachan, FR) ; Martinot; Olivier; (Draveil,
FR) ; Squedin; Sylvain; (Bondoufle, FR) ;
Baynaud; Erwan; (Paris, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
Alcatel Lucent
54, rue La Boetie
Paris
FR
75008
|
Family ID: |
37692564 |
Appl. No.: |
11/765426 |
Filed: |
June 19, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
717/136 ;
707/999.104; 707/999.107; 715/700; 715/762; 717/106 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/44012 20130101;
H04N 21/23412 20130101; H04N 21/41407 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
717/136 ;
715/762; 715/700; 707/104.1; 717/106 |
International
Class: |
G06F 9/45 20060101
G06F009/45; G06F 9/44 20060101 G06F009/44; G06F 17/00 20060101
G06F017/00; G06F 3/00 20060101 G06F003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 20, 2006 |
FR |
0652172 |
Claims
1. Method of creation of a multimedia service, this method
comprising: a step of generic description of the interface
graphical elements employed for the service, this description being
specified in a first language such as SVG; a step of storing these
descriptions in a graphical charts database; a step of generic
description of the elementary services of the service such as
canvassing, voting, quizzes, shopping, this description being
specified in a second language such as BIFS or LASeR, in the form
of three functional components: component of rendition to the end
user such as abbreviated elements of a graphical interface;
internal service logical component; logical component of the
external service supporting interaction with a remote server; a
step of storing of these descriptions in an elementary services
description database; a step of merging of the generic description
of the interface graphical elements and the generic description of
the elementary services to form a generic description of the
service; a step of choice of at least one target rich media format
such as MPEG-4 BIFS, MPEG-4 LASeR, SVG, MORE; a step of
translation, by syntax analysis software associated with an
inference engine, of the generic description of the service into
the chosen rich media format.
2. Service creation method according to claim 1, wherein, when the
service is translated into the target rich format, compilation of
the service is effected before deployment of the service on the
network of the operator.
3. Service creation method according to claim 1, wherein, for its
description, an elementary service is considered as formed of three
functional components: the component of rendition to the end user,
the logical component of the internal service, in which the logical
part of the service is defined; the component of the external
logical service, supporting interaction with a remote server.
4. Service creation method according to claim 1, wherein, when the
service is translated into the target rich format, compilation of
the service is effected before deployment of the service.
5. Computer program product for the creation of multimedia
services, this product including a service creation tool having:
means for merging a graphical chart description of the service and
an elementary service description to define a generic description
of the service independent of the multimedia format; means for
translation of this service generic description into a target
language.
6. Computer program product according to claim 5, wherein the
translation means comprise syntax analysis means associated with an
inference engine.
7. Computer program product according to claim 5, wherein the
syntax analysis software comprises, as modules, an inference engine
and multimedia format recognition means.
8. Computer program product according to claim 7, wherein the
inference engine module is configurable and defines the inference
creation logical service.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based on French Patent Application No.
0652172 filed Jun. 20, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby
incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety, and the priority
of which is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention concerns the creation of rich media format
contents. The invention finds one application in interactive
multimedia, in particular interactive television, on mobile
terminals, but also TNT, IPTV.
[0004] "Multimedia" refers to the interactive and simultaneous use
of a plurality of modes of representation of information (text,
fixed or animated images, sound).
[0005] "Interactive" refers to the possibility of reciprocal
actions in dialog mode. For example, the user can choose responses,
follow his own path in a tree, modify the progress of a
program.
[0006] "Interactive television" (ITV) refers here to any technology
enabling two-way communication between viewers and service
providers (such as broadcasters, cable TV distributors), in
particular for entertainment, information, education, commerce. The
services that an interactive television must offer include VoD
(Video on Demand), podcasts, PVR (Personal Video Recording), ESG
(Electronic Service Guide), voting, quizzes, shopping, for
example.
[0007] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0008] Multimedia has been successful on the Web, especially since
the launch in 1995 of the Java programming language which has
enabled autonomous applications to be created and html (Hyper Text
Mark-Up Language) documents to be given new functions: interactive
animations, integrated applications, 3D models. This
object-oriented language includes elements specifically designed
for the creation of multimedia applications. For interactivity,
connections that can be activated on demand (hyperlinks) link the
data for Web browsing.
[0009] Internet, landline telephone and mobile telephone, radio and
television are now available on computers via a single
"multifunction" modem. The convergence of audiovisual, electronic
data processing and telecommunications is a reality for persons
owning these modems.
[0010] Interactive multimedia on mobile terminals is currently
arousing great interest.
[0011] In the past, Internet access protocols specific to mobile
terminals such as PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) or mobile
telephones have been proposed, for example WAP (Wireless
Application Protocol).
[0012] A number of standards have now been proposed for television
on mobile terminals.
[0013] A first standard is the MPEG-4 BIFS.
[0014] The ISO/IEC MPEG4 (Moving Pictures and associated audio
information coding Expert Group 4) standard concerns all multimedia
technologies such as Internet downloading and streaming, multimedia
on mobile terminals, digital radio, video games, television and
high-definition media (HDTV). This MPEG4 standard should enable
convergence of the Web and television by integrating contents
coming from both these media. It further offers the possibility of
describing 2D interactive scenes through MHEG (Multimedia and
Hymermedia Expert Group). MPEG4 is also used to define 3D scenes
using VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) to create Web scenes
and to manage them using BIFS (Binary Format for Scene), the
description being on the Web, the descriptive text that is
associated with a page and displayed--usually the title of the page
and its URL--when a user makes a request via a search engine or a
directory. In the MPEG4 standard, the EAI (External Authoring
Interface) programming interface should enable a VRML scene to be
controlled from an external Java application. In the MPEG4
standard, a text description of the modules is provided under the
name of OCI (Object Content Information), management of the network
and terminals using the generic connection interface DMIF (Delivery
Multimedia Framework).
[0015] In the technical field of interactive mobile services,
standards other than MPEG4-BIFS have been proposed: MPEG-LASeR
(Lightweight Application Scene Representation, promoted by
Streamezzo), SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics, promoted by the World
Wide Web Consortium (W3C)), MORE (Mobile Open Rich-Media
Environment, promoted by Nokia).
[0016] To broadcast television to mobile terminals such as UMTS
(Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) telephones, a cell
supports a small number of simultaneous multimedia sessions at a
high bit rate, typically 256 kbps. This capacity will undoubtedly
be improved with the introduction of HSDPA (High Speed Downlink
Packet Access) or 3GLTE (3GPP Long Term Evolution). The "broadcast"
solution is not subject to this limitation, there being three
possible technologies for broadcasting television to mobile
terminals: [0017] MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service), an
extension of the UMTS; [0018] terrestrial digital networks such as
DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcast transmission to Handheld terminals),
T-DMB (Terrestrial Digital Multimedia Broadcasting), Media-Flo
(Media Forward Link Only) and the Japanese network ISDB-T; [0019]
hybrid satellite/terrestrial networks such as S-DMB in Korea,
MobaHO ! in Japan or DVB-H adapted to the S band, as developed by
the applicant, providing a capacity for 5 to 11 Mbps (8 MHz) and 20
to 30 channels, compared to the three channels at 256 kbps of the
MBMS.
[0020] One drawback of the "broadcast" approach is that each
content creator supplies to the broadcaster a content obtained with
the aid of their proprietary multimedia creation tools (authoring
tools).
[0021] These creation tools make creating and delivering services
flexible and easy, reducing design costs and the time necessary to
bring a product to market.
[0022] Creation tools must take account of specific environments
and the context of development and installation in the networks
(deployment).
[0023] More precisely, the use of creation tools dedicated to the
environments of mobile terminals and employed to create and deliver
interactive mobile services must address the following two
problems: [0024] the dependency of these creation tools on
multimedia formats or rich media formats. Multimedia formats such
as MPEG4-BIFS (Moving Pictures and associated audio information
coding Expert Group 4 Binary Format for Scene), MPEG4-LASeR, VRML
(Virtual Reality Modeling Language), SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)
each offer a set of audiovisual descriptions and different graphic
characteristics. The model describing the application is based on a
language associated with a multimedia format. As an example of
these differences, VRML is a "download and play" model, the content
being downloaded entirely before the scene starts, while an MPEG-4
content can be a streaming model. The choice of another language
implies translation of the source model to the target model.
However, this translation is sometimes difficult because a few
characteristics of one rich media language are not supported by
another language. The rendering and behavior of the translated
application may be affected by the translation process. As a result
the choice of the creation tool governs the choice of the
multimedia format. For example, the Streamezzo creation tool is
dedicated to MPEG4 LASeR and does not support any other multimedia
format. In the case of MPEG4-BIFS, the company Envivo proposes a
creation tool supporting only the BIFS format (MPEG-4 H.263/H.264
encoders). The result of this is that to create an interactive
mobile service supporting both the MPEG4-BIFS format and the
MPEG4-LASeR format, it is necessary to employ two creation tools;
[0025] graphical appearance: there is no explicit method for
reusing in a second service a graphical appearance defined for a
first service. There is a strong need for a library of graphic
appearances so that one of the appearances can be used by the
defined service.
[0026] An object of the invention is to provide a solution to the
problem of the dependency of creation tools on the multimedia
format and enabling a graphical appearance to be reused to create
services.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0027] To this end, a first aspect of the invention relates to a
method of creating a multimedia service comprising: [0028] a step
of generic description, independent of the multimedia format, of
the graphical charts employed for the service, [0029] a step of
generic description, independent of the multimedia format, of the
elementary services of the service; [0030] a step of merging of the
generic description of the graphical charts and the generic
description of the elementary services, to form a generic
description of the service; [0031] a step of choosing at least one
target language; [0032] a step of translation of the generic
description of the service into the chosen target language.
[0033] Various implementations of the method have the following
characteristics, which may where applicable be combined: [0034] the
step of translation of the generic description comprises a syntax
analysis and an inference analysis; [0035] for its description, an
elementary service is considered as formed of three functional
components: the component of rendition to the end user, the logical
component of the internal service, where the logical part of the
service is defined; the component of the external logical service,
supporting interaction with a distant server; [0036] when the
service is translated into the target rich format, a compilation of
the service is effected before deployment of the service.
[0037] A second aspect of the invention relates to a computer
program product for multimedia service creation, the product
comprising a service creation tool including means for merging a
graphical chart description of the service and a description of
elementary services to define a generic description of the service,
independent of the multimedia format; this computer program product
also including means for translating this generic service
description into a target language.
[0038] The translation means advantageously comprise syntax
analysis means associated with an inference engine.
[0039] The syntax analysis software advantageously comprises, as
modules, an inference engine and multimedia format recognition
means.
[0040] In an advantageous implementation, the inference engine
module is configurable and defines the inference creation logical
service. Accordingly, if a function in a created service is not
supported by the target multimedia format, for example, the service
creator can define how the translation will be effected to render
that service at the same time as avoiding this weakness of the
target multimedia format.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0041] Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in
the course of the following description of implementations of the
invention given with reference to the appended drawings, in
which:
[0042] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the implementation of the
invention;
[0043] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view more detailed than that of
FIG. 1;
[0044] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of one particular
implementation of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0045] A multimedia format service consists of one or more
elementary services such as canvassing, voting, quizzes, shopping.
A graphical chart defines the appearance of this service, which is
also linked to a server configuration component that defines the
server end configuration.
[0046] When creating a service, a graphic creator 1 effects a
description of the graphical charts employed for the service, and
these descriptions are stored in a graphical charts database 2. The
appearances of a collection of interface graphical elements
(widgets) are defined, for example button style, combined zone
(combo box), menu bar, scroll bar, text boxes, text style, line
style.
[0047] In parallel with this, an elementary service creator 3
effects a description of the elementary services of the service
(basic bricks), and these descriptions are stored in an elementary
services descriptions database 4.
[0048] For its description, an elementary service is considered as
formed of three functional components: [0049] the component of
rendition to the end user, for example abbreviated elements of an
end user graphical interface GUI (Graphical User Interface); [0050]
the logical component of the internal service, in which the logical
part of the service is defined. For example, detection of an event
(button pressed) of an end user and execution of an action; [0051]
the component of the external logical service, supporting
interaction with a remote server: client part for sending
interactive requests from the end user terminal, server end for the
management of these interactive requests.
[0052] A creation tool 5 produces a generic description of the
service 6 from data extracted from the databases 2, 4.
[0053] This description is referred to as generic in that it is
independent of the multimedia format. The generic descriptions for
the graphical chart or the services can be proprietary, for
example, or defined in an existing multimedia format. For example,
in the FIG. 3 implementation, the description of the graphical
charts is specified in the SVG language and the descriptions of the
elementary services are specified with BIFS and with LASeR.
[0054] The generic description of the service is sent to the syntax
analysis (parser) software 7 for the translation of that generic
description of the service into the required multimedia format.
[0055] The syntax analysis software 7 is associated with an
inference engine (rule engine) 8 and translates a generic service
description into a specific multimedia format, for example MPEG-4
BIFS, MPEG-4 LASeR, SVG, MORE.
[0056] This combination of syntax analysis software 7/inference
engine 8 (parser/rule engine) for the translation of the generic
description of the service takes account of the development and
deployment context; for example: [0057] is the multimedia format
supported by the network operator and the equipments of the end
users, [0058] does the multimedia format support the service
created.
[0059] An import function advantageously "converts" a service
defined in a specific format into a generic description using the
inference engine 8 for the adaptation.
[0060] In one implementation, the syntax analysis software 7
comprises, as modules: [0061] an inference engine 8 (rule engine),
and [0062] multimedia format recognition software (rich media
format parser).
[0063] The inference engine module 8 can be configured and defines
the inference creation logical service. For example, if a function
in a created service is not supported by the target multimedia
format, the service creator can define how the translation will be
effected to render that service at the same time as avoiding this
weakness of the target multimedia format.
[0064] The format recognition module also takes into account the
deployment context (for example the format is supported by the
network and the equipments of the users).
[0065] The format recognition module is advantageously modular. For
example, a format sub-module is defined for each format, enabling
translation. If a new multimedia format appears on the market,
format recognition can be adapted to integrate a sub-module
dedicated to the new rich format.
[0066] When the service is translated into the target rich format,
the service is compiled 9 before it is deployed 10 on the network
of the operator.
[0067] To prevent the recreation of existing and deployed services,
the multimedia service creation tool supports an important function
for conversion of a service defined in a multimedia format into the
generic model.
[0068] The service creator will have the possibility of inserting
his own translation rule in order to adapt the conversion.
[0069] Using the invention offers numerous advantages: [0070]
avoiding conversion between multimedia formats such as BIFS or
LASeR; [0071] services are specified independently of the
multimedia formats, and can be translated into any format; [0072]
after the specification of the services, the creation tools propose
selection of the target multimedia format; [0073] as far as
possible, the services delivered to the end users have the same
independence vis a vis the encoding of the multimedia format;
[0074] the same service can be defined in more than one rich media
encoding according to the network operator and the end user
equipment; [0075] the creation tool can be updated to support a new
multimedia format; [0076] it is possible to import existing
services.
[0077] The implementation of the invention for contents and
services is thus highly advantageous for providers and operators
(telco and broadcasting) who do not wish to define a service using
multiple skills in terms of tools and rich formats.
Key
[0078] 1 graphic creator [0079] 2 graphical charts database [0080]
3 elementary services creator [0081] 4 elementary services
descriptions database [0082] 5 creation tool [0083] 6 generic
service description [0084] 7 syntax analysis software [0085] 8
inference engine [0086] 9 compilation [0087] 10 deployment
* * * * *